It's rather downbeat for a Christmas advert,

Maudlin comes to mind 

I ticket for Virgin Galactic might have been a more appropriate gift...

Lubs the new avi Kaffs 

Thanks Moonie.. changed my car - and since Cos found my last one when I bought my green car - it's now her permanent job to keep my avi up to date.    She only works about once in five years...

Hope Cos is on a good retainer if she only works every five years or so then  

Yes, exactly the right word Moonie 

I love your new avi too Kaffy...

Though it does make you wonder what's going on in the back seat... 

Sorry... I been a proper filfbag lately  

Awful.  Almost as bad as that ghastly penguin from last year.

As for the music - what would Jim Royle say?  (Probably "John Lewis, my Arse")

  There was nae John Lewis where I come from Velvet. It was probably too rough to build a store! So they'll never have any emotional connection for me.  M + S is still glamorous and "special" though. 

They'd have to go some to reach the depths that Sainbury's plumbed last year, mind

Oh yes, the WW1 truce one. Words fail you really, Madame.  

And their customer service is nice   

Indeed, Roger

Well it took me a while to get it ....and eventually saw where they were coming from , but I agree with Moonie , it's too maudlin for Xmas ....but I liked the penguin last year....at least the first couple of times   

Here's the M&S Christmas ad launched today:

Probably best not to go there Rog 

When I googled the correct spelling for "maudlin" spelling not my greatest attribute, it came up with "Reginald Maudling" a minister of past times 

They musta had a flat tire and were jacking up the car to change it  

 never thought of that Rog 

Maudling is the present participle of the verb maudle which means to render maudlin.

And if you want to find out what is the origin of the word maudlin, read the Bible - gospel according to John chapter 20 verse 11 onwards.

Meh, its not very Christmassy is it? 

At least they're not tugging at our heartstrings in a spend-or-feel-ashamed way.

That spoof with the sarky geordie voiceover totally ruined it for me Baz 

personally i loved last years sainsbury ad

i thought it was great

not sure about this years john lewis one though

youre right its a bit maudlin

http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2015/...5-dark-side-version/

Yeah: how dare they copy a Paul McCartney video...

As for the new John Lewis ad:

I think the choice of music was a blunder, I can't be the only one who kept thinking of "The Royle Family" while watching it..,

Argos clearly the winners.

True Eugene, they totally nicked that!!! 

This advert is a perfect metaphor for all those people who are alone, on the street and poor, but are force fed jollity, over indulgence and a pressure to spend money they don't have, just to 'celebrate' what exactly?

Well done John Lewis. I think you have inadvertently made something which should resonate with people (if they can see the message).

I agree on both points, EC: yes, it's a great metaphor and yes, I think it's inadvertent.

What does the girl do? does she contact NASA so they can visit the old man or bring him back to Earth for a slap-up Christmas dinner?

No: she sends him a telescope so he can sit there watching everyone-else having a great time!

I think it's maudlin and far too saccharine sweet for me, won't persuade me too go and shop in John Lewis ( never find anything I like in there anyway)